Poster No:
600
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Sawa Kurata1, Shota Nishitani1, Natasha Kawata1, Akiko Yao1, Takashi X Fujisawa1, Hidehiko Okazawa2, Akemi Tomoda1
Institutions:
1Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture, 2Biomedical Imaging Research Center, University of Fukui, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture
First Author:
Sawa Kurata
Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui
Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture
Co-Author(s):
Shota Nishitani
Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui
Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture
Natasha Kawata
Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui
Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture
Akiko Yao
Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui
Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture
Takashi X Fujisawa
Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui
Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture
Hidehiko Okazawa
Biomedical Imaging Research Center, University of Fukui
Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture
Akemi Tomoda
Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui
Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui Prefecture
Introduction:
Childhood maltreatment is a critical global issue affecting public health and social welfare. Traumatic childhood experiences often have lasting impacts on brain structure and function (Teicher, 2016), though some individuals demonstrate resilience. Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying child maltreatment perpetration is essential, yet few studies have focused on the brains of maltreating mothers. Investigating the intergenerational transmission of childhood maltreatment and the neurobiological factors influencing abusive behaviors could inform prevention strategies.
Methods:
This exploratory, cross-sectional, case-control study included 12 maltreating mothers (MM) who were identified by pediatricians and child psychiatrists as having current or past social interventions for childhood maltreatment. The control group comprised 166 age-matched mothers who participated from the general population. All participants underwent MRI imaging, including T1-weighed, resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), using a 3.0 Tesla GE SIGNA MRI system. Psychological assessments included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-J) (Bernstein, 1997, Mizuki & Fujiwara,2021), Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)(Felitti,1998), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS)(Zung,1965), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)(Beck ,1996). Brain imaging and psychological data were analyzed for structural and functional differences and their correlations with psychological measures.
Results:
Structural brain analysis using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) (MM=12, CM=166) revealed that MM exhibited increased volume in the bilateral globus pallidus (including the putamen) compared to control mothers (CM). Conversely, the right middle and inferior temporal gyri volumes were reduced in MM. Notably, the right globus pallidus volume correlated significantly with childhood adversity, suggesting intergenerational chain.
RsfMRI analysis (MM=12, CM=105) showed reduced functional connectivity (FC) in MM within the fronto-parietal network, particularly between the right inferior temporal gyrus and Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (LPFC) involved in executive function and cognitive control. While FC seeded from the right inferior temporal gyrus showed no group differences, FC from the left inferior temporal gyrus to the lateral occipital cortex was increased in MM.
DTI analysis (MM=11, CM=40) using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) revealed decreased axial diffusivity (AD) in the right corticospinal tract and a trend toward reduced fractional anisotropy (FA). These findings were associated with the number of childhood maltreatment experiences, indicating intergenerational effects.
Conclusions:
The enlarged globus pallidus in MM suggests repeated dopamine fluctuations (Tomiyama,2004), potentially linked to emotional instability and stress-related experiences. This region's involvement in the reward system may further explain maladaptive behavioral patterns. Reduced connectivity in the frontal-parietal network may indicate vulnerabilities in attention, memory, and cognitive flexibility. The inferior temporal gyrus, which collaborates with the prefrontal cortex to interpret visual information, may show cooperation difficulties in MM, potentially impairing their ability to respond flexibly to their children.
DTI findings point to difficulties in voluntary motor control, further highlighting neurobiological vulnerabilities in MM. These characteristics may contribute to difficulties in processing and implementing information from their children, with emotional dysregulation exacerbating the challenges.
Overall, the findings underscore the neurobiological basis of maltreating mothers' behaviors, partly shaped by intergenerational transmission of childhood maltreatment. This research provides critical insights into the mechanisms underlying abusive behaviors and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to break the cycle of maltreatment.
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Emotion and Motivation Other 1
Lifespan Development:
Lifespan Development Other 2
Keywords:
FUNCTIONAL MRI
MRI
Trauma
WHITE MATTER IMAGING - DTI, HARDI, DSI, ETC
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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Please indicate below if your study was a "resting state" or "task-activation” study.
Resting state
Healthy subjects only or patients (note that patient studies may also involve healthy subjects):
Patients
Was this research conducted in the United States?
No
Were any human subjects research approved by the relevant Institutional Review Board or ethics panel?
NOTE: Any human subjects studies without IRB approval will be automatically rejected.
No
Were any animal research approved by the relevant IACUC or other animal research panel?
NOTE: Any animal studies without IACUC approval will be automatically rejected.
No
Please indicate which methods were used in your research:
Functional MRI
Structural MRI
Diffusion MRI
For human MRI, what field strength scanner do you use?
3.0T
Which processing packages did you use for your study?
SPM
FSL
Provide references using APA citation style.
Beck AT (1996). BDI-II: Beck Depression Inventory Manual. 2nd ed. San Antonio: Psychological Corporation.
Bernstein, DP (1997). Validity of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire in an adolescent
psychiatric population.
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatryy ,36, 340-348.
Felitti, VJ(1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 14, 245-258.
Mizuki, R. & Fujiwara, T. (2021) Validation of the Japanese version of the Childhood
Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-J). Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy 13, 537-544.
Teicher,MH (2016). Annual Research Review: Enduring neurobiological effects of childhood abuse and neglect. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry 57, 241-266.
Tomiyama M (2004). Hypertrophy of medial globus pallidus and substantia nigra reticulata in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats treated with L-DOPA: implication for L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease. Neuropathology. 24(4):290-5.
Zung, WW(1965). Self-rating depression scale in an outpatient clinic. Further validation
of the SDS. Archives of General Psychiatry. 13, 508-515.
No